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County Council ApprovesAccomodations Tax Funds

Saluda County Council awarded Accommodations Tax Funds at the Mon. Feb. 12, meeting.

The funds were awarded as follows: Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, $1,000.00; Friends of Ridge Spring , $2,000.00; Palmetto Tractor Club , $2,000.00; Richland Creek Antique Power Assoc., $2,000.00; Ridge Spring Harvest Festival, $2,000.00; Saluda County Historical Society, $2,000.00; Saluda County Chamber of Commerce, $1,000.00; Saluda Young Farmer & Agribusiness Assoc., $1,000.00; Town of Ridge Spring/Art Center, $2,000.00. At the beginning of the meeting, a public hearing was held on an ordinance on the execution and delivery of a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes agreement, by bond between Saluda County, South Carolina, And Catalina Solar, LLC. The third reading was passed in the old business portion of the meeting. CEO/Administrator, Keith Paul made a presentation on Saluda Nursing Center. Council approved the a Century Link phone system, at the suggestion of IT Director Mitchell Kneece for the lease term of three years at a monthly cost of $2,804.67, excluding sales tax. Council authorized the Assistant Emergency Management Director Jill Warren to proceed with the Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant application for a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and brochures for the Victims Advocate in the amount of $2,550.00 with the 20% required match of $510.00 to be paid from Contingency. Council approved the quote from Wilson and Associates Sports Turf in the amount of $2,500.00 to be paid from Contingency for the preparation and maintenance of ball fields at the Saluda County Recreation Complex. The request was made by Recreation Director Paul Ergle Council approved the purchase a software compatible scanner, at the request of Probate Judge, Brenda Griffith in the amount of $736.00 to be paid from Contingency for Probate Court. At the request Jail Administrator, Janice Ergle, Council approved the purchase of a Hewlett Packard printer in the amount of $533.93 to be paid from Contingency for the Saluda County Detention Center. Council appointed William C. Rutland of 420 Hallman Road, Ward to the Saluda County Airport Commission with his first term expiring June 13, 2020.

Saluda High Celebrates 2018 National FFA Week, Feb. 17-24

INDIANAPOLIS – The Saluda FFA Chapter in Saluda, SC will celebrate National FFA Week, Feb. 17-24, 2018. This FFA Week embraces more than 90 years of FFA traditions while looking forward to the organization’s future. More than 653,000 members will participate in National FFA Week activities at local, state and national levels. These members have a passion for agriculture.Designated a national week in 1947, the week of George Washington’s birthday, National FFA Week runs from Saturday to Saturday and gives FFA members an opportunity to educate the public about agriculture. During the week, chapters conduct a variety of activities to help others in their school and community learn about FFA and agricultural education. Saluda will celebrate National FFA Week by participating in the following activities: a fun meeting on Monday, Skating Party on Tuesday, visit to the State House for Legislator’s Appreciation Day on Wedesday, volunteering at Christ Central on Thursday, and a Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch on Friday along with two of our young men participating in the Mr. FFA Competition at Pendleton High that evening. Today’s FFA members are the innovators and leaders of tomorrow. Through agricultural and hands-on learning, they are preparing for 255 unique career opportunities in the food, fiber and natural resources industry. National FFA Week is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company. The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 649,355 student members who belong to one of 7,859 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 225,891 alumni members in 1,934 alumni chapters throughout the U.S.

Historic Saluda Photo

Many people do not know Saluda once had a skating rink. Everette Bledsoe recently came across this photo taken in February 1960 at Bill’s Skating Rink. Pictured, L to R, are Everette (cut-off), Ann Boland, Ann Baird, Hobo Bedenbaugh, Elsie Quattlebaum, and Lenard Smith. Everette soon went into the service after this photo was taken. He and Ann were married in 1963. Sadly, Ann lost her battle with cancer last week. The building where Bill’s was located has been torn down for years. It was where the parking lot is now on West Church Street, next to the old Saluda CPW office.

Bob Shealy Speaks at Garden Club of Saluda

The Garden Club of Saluda met in the social hall at Red Bank Baptist Church on Monday, February 5 to hear invited speaker Bob Shealy’s fascinating talk about bees and his work as a bee keeper. His explanation of the importance of bees in our agricultural South was at the heart of his presentation. Bees play a crucial role in the pollination of crops, making their health and well-being of grave importance to all of us. To begin, Bob explained the amazing structure of the highly organized bee hive and the work of each bee within the hive. The queen, the workers, and the drones have specific tasks to perform, each working for the good of the colony. Bob brought a hive to show and to explain the different parts and how the bees form their honey within the hive. He explained the role of the beekeeper in managing the hive and how the honey is harvested and extracted. He also explained how predators can cause problems and how a hive can be destroyed by other pests. He reiterated what most people already know that the use of pesticides has played a large part in the alarming reduction in the bee population in our country and in many other parts of the world. He said what will kill one insect pest will also kill a bee. One of the things Bob stressed was the bees’ needs for nectar sources. He said with mass clearing of land, the flowers upon which they depend have been reduced. He said that we who love beautiful, weed free lawns do the bees a disservice by eliminating one of their very early spring foods, the dandelions. Apparently these spring bloomers have exactly what the bee needs, both carbohydrates and proteins. This could change our perception of this humble little weed as we think of the winter-weary bee looking for its first nectar in the spring. Bob closed with a question and answer session and finally by thanking our garden club and others for promoting the use of flowers in our beautification efforts. He said bees do so much more than produce the delicious honey which he brought for us to sample. They are truly one of nature’s most highly organized and essential creatures. They are well worth all our efforts to help them thrive. Gloria Caldwell

CHAIRMAN SPEAKS TO LEGION - Saluda American Legion Post 65 was pleased to have Saluda County Council Chairperson, The Honorable Derrick Jones as the key note speaker at their February meeting. He shared his vision for our county. Jones noted that the Council meetings were being streamed on the county web site making the Council meetings transparent as much as possible. He encouraged citizens to attend Council meetings or visit the County web site. Pictured left to right: Chaplain John Hood, World War II Veteran Wilbur Humpries, World War II Veteran Bill Begemann, The Honorable Derrick Jones, Commander Al Butler and Adjutant Tina Buffington.

Purification, Romance, Repentance February

by Roy Vandegrift, III

Get ready; be prepared. February (which means “purify”) cometh! A mere 2,700 years ago, February was added along with January as the 11th and 12th months on the Roman 10 month calendar. Therefore, February was both the End and the Beginning. So here we go! February 2nd was Feralia, when sacrifices were offered to the dead. So is that why pancake suppers would become popular then?! That day was 40 days after Christmas – the birthday of Jesus, and Mary concluded her 40 days of purification, which the Church named Candlemas. February is the month of purification and repentance AND romance. Roman men walked around – nude – brrrrrr – whipping themselves in repentance. On February 12th and 13th priests walked around nude whipping childless women with goat skin whips. That’s a strange way to get barren women pregnant, especially by a nude man. It was also the custom on these days to draw the name of a young girl out of an urn. She would then be the girlfriend of the young man for the coming year. Cupid is associated with this – shooting love arrows into the hearts of people, causing them to fall in love with an inappropriate person. Some called him ‘stupid Cupid’. Valentine, an upper-class Roman and, later a saint, lived circa 250 AD. He was executed for his Christian beliefs – he would not renounce Jesus. Valentine sent greetings to friends, one of whom he signed, “From your Valentine”. This was done on the 13th, 14th or 15th of February – Feast of Lupercalia. Around 500 AD the Church renamed February 14th as Saint Valentine’s Day and tried to get people to draw the names of saints, not women, out of urns. The idea was a flop! In Britain in mid-February birds also began to mate as spring was approaching. Kale was in bloom so kale soup was popular. On the 29th day of February – ‘0ne day more one year in four’ – women asked men to marry them. The weather of February 2nd could also determine the weather for the coming year: warm day meant cool year and vice versa. George Washington, Abe Lincoln, and William Henry Harrison were born this month (February) – so was your writer, RV3. Our Valentine’s Day goes back into the Roman world associated with Venus – goddess of love, — Cupid — the winged baby with bow and arrows creating romance — and Lupercus – god of shepherds and flocks. Early Christianity attempted over the centuries to modify the customs of several pagan festivals. England’s King Henry VIII officially acknowledged St. Valentine’s Day in England. In the mid-19th century in our country, Esther Howland really launched Valentine card mailings. The penny stamp helped. Ms. Howland made a fortune making and selling Valentines. We still love cards and candy and flowers for Valentine’s Day.

Seeking Candidates for S.C. Silver Haired Legislature

The Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging/Aging & Disability Resource Center is seeking candidates for the next term of the S.C. Silver Haired Legislature.

Greenwood and Laurens counties are eligible for three represen-tatives apiece while Abbeville, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties are each eligible for two representatives. The purposes of Silver Haired Legislature are to identify issues, concerns, and possible solutions for problems faced by the citizens of South Carolina with special emphasis on issues related to seniors; to make recommendations to the Governor and to members of the SC General Assembly; to educate the public on senior issues; to encourage seniors to participate actively in public affairs; to function on a nonpartisan basis; to promote good government for all South Carolinians; and to hold one Silver Haired Legislative session annually. Anyone who is 60 and older and is a registered voter in the county in which he or she resides is eligible for candidacy. Those interested in becoming a Silver Haired Legislature representative can request a candidate packet by contacting Vanessa Wideman at Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging/Aging & Disability Resource Center at 864.941.8053. Filing for candidacy will continue through February 23. The election will be held on March 6. Election locations will be announced at a later date. The election is for two-year terms.

Lions Club Grant Approved

The Saluda Lion’s club has been informed that our grant for help in the purchase of the Spot camera has been approved. Many of you have contributed to the Don Hancock memorial fund which was established both to honor Don and to help with the purchase of the Spot camera. During the fall, we were able to borrow a camera from the Abbeville club. We went to all of the local schools and did eye exams on almost one thousand students. About one hundred and fifty of those were sent to their optometrist for further evaluation. The ultimate purchase of this camera will insure that we will be able to identify eye problems not only with school children but to be utilized in churches and senior citizen’s venues. We want to thank all who helped make this possible.

School Board Members Recognized for Service

Saluda County Schools Board members were recognized by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) for their years of school board service: Dr. Arlene Puryear- 10 years, Dr. Kathy Coleman- 20 years and Mr. James Holloway-30 years of service. Board Members received special lapel pins and certificates for reaching this benchmark. Veteran school board members provide vision and valuable leadership for school districts. Saluda County Schools Board members were recognized by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) for their years of school board service: (above, L to R) Dr. Arlene Puryear- 10 years, Dr. Kathy Coleman- 20 years and Mr. James Holloway-30 years of service. Board Members received special lapel pins and certificates for reaching this benchmark. Veteran school board members provide vision and valuable leadership for school districts.

Left to right - Jeremy, Gerald, and Pam Cromer

Saluda Young Farmer Recognized at State Level

Isle of Palms, SC…..The Saluda County Young Farmer and Agribusiness Chapter was well represented at the 70th annual convention held January 19-21 at the Wild Dunes Resort. During this event, Gerald Cromer was presented the Young Farmer & Agribusiness Award for the Mid-State Region and the State. This is one of the highest awards available to a state member, and the first time since 2000 that a Saluda member has received the award. Gerald has successfully owned and managed Cromer Trucking for 25 years. He recently turned the operation over to his son, Joey. Reggie Padgett was the State winner for the categories of Swine Production and Energy Efficiency. Reggie is employed by Hickory Hill Milk, but manages a small swine herd on the side. Officers of the Saluda Young Farmer Chapter for 2018 include President Terry Brown, Vice President Daniel Patterson, Secretary Marlene Bushey, Treasurer Candice Miller, and Agricultural Education Instructor at Saluda High School Amanda N. Crouch, who serves as the advisor. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in agriculture, 18 years of age or older. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month. See www.saludayoungfarmer.org for more information.